Improving Accessibility and Usability of Medical Equipment for Patients with Disabilities

Patients with disabilities have reported having difficulty using common types of medical equipment. The purpose of the studies presented here was to identify, characterize, and investigate the problems, then propose solutions. Methods used included a survey, focus groups, usability testing, and an intervention study. The survey and focus groups served to identify and collect descriptions of the problems that patients with disabilities have had using 15 major categories of medical equipment. Overall, the four most problematic types of equipment were examination tables, radiology equipment, rehabilitation or exercise equipment, and weight scales. The survey and focus groups also identified the patient populations that had greatest difficulty with each type of equipment. Before conducting usability testing of the medical equipment, the research team developed a systematic method to identify and characterize the barriers that patients with disabilities experienced when using various types of medical equipment. The team developed a method based on videotape observation to identify access and safety barriers, involving mismatches between user capabilities and the physical, sensory, cognitive, and environmental demands of the tasks. The usability testing provided information about which equipment features caused difficulties for specific patient populations. One of the studies investigated use of diabetes management devices for patients with vision impairments: talking blood glucose meters and devices used to facilitate filling a syringe with insulin. Another study investigated use of three types of radiology equipment (X-ray, computed tomography scan and fluoroscopy) for people who used walking aids (e.g., canes, walkers, crutches). The intervention study explored the effects of table height and handholds on use of a medical examination table by ambulatory elder patients with mobility disabilities. In this laboratory study participants evaluated 15 equipment configurations to sit down on and stand up from the table, eight configurations to sit up from a supine position on the table, and six configurations to roll onto one side from supine on the table. Based on these study findings, specific design recommendations are made to improve accessibility for talking blood glucose meters, syringe loading devices, radiologic platforms and examination tables.